The third season of “One-Punch Man” failed to impress fans with any improvement in visual quality.
“One-Punch Man” returned after a six-year hiatus, but its third season — once again produced by studio J.C. Staff — did not meet fans’ expectations for animation quality. From the earliest episodes, many viewers found the animation flat and uninspired, triggering a fresh wave of criticism directed at the studio.
Still, not everyone accepted the situation passively; some decided to take action. Using artificial intelligence, they began to “enhance” the animation themselves.
Clips generated with the Sora model that showcase improved versions of scenes have already started appearing online. For example, user @koko_shishi_022 posted a comparison between the original frames and those processed with Sora, where added movements and gestures create a more dynamic impression.
Fans are divided. Some consider this approach an acceptable fix for shortcomings, while others warn it may make matters worse by producing an artificial, unnatural look. They favor handcrafted animation — even if less polished, it often feels livelier.
Previously, third-season director Shinpei Nagai and One Piece animator Vincent Chansard defended J.C. Staff, explaining that the studio is fighting to survive in a fiercely competitive Japanese animation industry where large corporations lure top talent with hefty pay.
Source: iXBT.games